1 Corinthians 10:13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful… I. WHAT IS TEMPTATION? Generally an incentive, enticement, or provocation to sin. But there are other things called temptations which are not so in their own nature, but only as they become, through the corruption of our hearts, the occasions of sin, viz., afflictions, and the self-denying duties of the Christian life. God tempted Abraham, to try him whether he would be obedient or not. Afflictions are called temptations because they stir up impatience and provoke unbelief and apostasy. "Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God." Strictly speaking He can tempt no man. He never provokes us to sin. But He does try and prove us, whether we will keep His commandments or not. II. WHENCE COME TEMPTATIONS ? From what has been said it is evident that they come — 1. Permissively, from God. But permission does not imply approval. God looks on, and suffers creatures to work out their own purposes: that is all. 2. Externally and instrumentally, from Satan, the world, or providential circumstances. 3. Internally, and by way of assistance they derive their force from our own corruptions, and liability to be overcome. Our natures are like dry fuel, ready to kindle at the least spark. It is a happy thing that, while God permits temptation, He also governs and controls it, holding Satan himself in check. III. WHY DOES GOD PERMIT TEMPTATION? 1. To prove and develop character. 2. To show His own power and wisdom in bringing good out of evil. 3. To strengthen the graces of sanctification in His people. (1) By giving scope and exercise to those graces. What would become of them if they were not called out into action? (2) By necessitating nearness to God and perpetual dependence upon Christ. IV. HOW DOES GOD LIMIT TEMPTATION? 1. By controlling the power and malice of the tempter. 2. By adopting, moderating, alleviating providential circumstances, so as to suit the measure of our strength. 3. By raising our own strength in proportion to the temptation. "As-thy day is, so shall thy strength be." V. WHAT SECURITY HAVE WE THAT GOD WILL SO LIMIT TEMPTATION? This: "God is faithful." 1. Therefore He will not break His word. This is the subject of express promise; and God is not a man that He should lie. 2. Therefore He will not falsify the assurances which He has given of His tender regard for the weakest of His people. They are His jewels. Will He suffer them to be trampled under foot? They are the sheep of His pasture. Will He, the Great Shepherd, permit the ravager to make havoc in the fold? They are His children. Will He abandon them to the rage of an implacable foe? VI. WHAT ARE OUR DUTIES IN REFERENCE TO TEMPTATION? 1. Beware of rushing headlong into danger. The Word of God gives no sanction to foolhardiness. Why should Peter, in the plenitude of his vainglorious zeal, thrust himself into the high priest's palace, and dare the jealous scrutiny of a thousand eyes, as though it were impossible for him to faint in the hour of trial? 2. Be armed against timidity and discouragement. If God allows you to fall into circumstances of temptation, be not dismayed. What servant of Christ was ever conducted to heaven without being often confronted by the enemy? 3. Resist to the uttermost. (D. Katterns.) Parallel Verses KJV: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. |
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